The Vacum advance Should be Facing Forward Or slitly to the water Pump. The Way You rotate the dist. Is to Pull It up JUST enough to be able to rotate The Rotor Button NOT the whole dist.
Each time the Piston come TDC it will want to push you finger anyway,JUST will have More Push because the Valves will be closed at that time.
The back fire out the carb does mean your 180 out
The ground strap from motor to chassi will not cause the carb to backfire(well NOT that I ever heard of)IF you want to be 100% sure you Valve are closed at TDC Pull the valve cover and Watch the rockers(if you don't have a dail gage)Then check you dampener to see if it is at Zero Then set you dist in at #one plug.If all is right It should fire right up No back popping anywhere (carb or exhaust)
God doesn't like ugly.
